Prayer of Thanksgiving for Philemon

1 This letter is from me, Paul. I am in prison because I am Christ Jesus's servant. Our friend Timothy is here with me as I write. We are writing to you, Philemon. You are our friend, and we love you. You work on behalf of Christ, as we do.

2 We say ‘hello’ also to you, Apphia, who are like a sister to us. And we say ‘hello’ to you, Archippus. You serve Christ like a soldier, as we do. We say ‘hello’ also to the group of Christians who meet in your home.

3 I pray that God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to help you. I pray that they will give you peace in your minds.

4 When I pray for you, I thank my God because of you always.

5 I thank God because people tell me good things about you. You love and believe the Lord Jesus. And you love all God's people.

6 I pray that you may always be ready to talk to other people about Christ. Talk to them about what you believe. So then you will understand more completely every good thing that is ours because of Christ.

7 My friend, you have been kind to God's people. You have helped them and you have made them happy. I know that you love Jesus and all God's people. That makes me very happy. And it makes me feel much braver and stronger. [1]

Paul's Petition for Onisimus

8 There is something that you ought to do. I could tell you that you must do it. I could tell you that clearly, with the authority that comes from Christ.

9 But I am not telling you that you must do it. Instead, I am asking you to do it because you love people. I am Paul, and I am an old man. Also, I am in prison now because I am Christ Jesus's servant.

10 So I am asking you on behalf of Onesimus, who is like my own child. I taught him about Jesus while I was in prison. And now he has become really alive because he believes Jesus. So he is like my own child.

11 Before, Onesimus did not help you. But now he can help both you and me. [2]

12 I love Onesimus so much that he is like part of me. But I am sending him back to you.

13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in prison. I am in prison because I taught people the good news about Jesus. If you were here, you would have helped me. I know that. And I wanted Onesimus to help me on your behalf.

14 But I wanted to ask you first. I did not want to do anything unless you agreed. I did not want you to think that you had to help me. I did not want you to help me because you thought like that. Instead, I wanted you to help me because you really want to help.

15 Perhaps God let Onesimus leave you for a short time so that you could have him back for always.

16 You can have him back again not only as your slave. Now he can be something much better than a slave. He can be like a brother, that you love. I love Onesimus very much. But you will love him even more than I do. You will love him as a slave and you will love him also as a brother. He is like a brother to you because you and he are both the Lord's people.

Paul's Promise to Philemon

17 I am your friend, who works with you. If you think about me as a friend like that, then please say ‘welcome’ to Onesimus. Be happy that he has come back to you. And be kind to him. If I came to meet you, you would say ‘welcome’ to me. And you would be happy to meet me. Be happy about him in the same way.

18 If Onesimus has done anything wrong to you, I will make it right again. If he ought to pay you some money, I will pay the money to you on his behalf.

19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay the money back to you. But remember how very much you yourself have received from me. You have become really alive by Jesus Christ because I taught you about him.

20 So, my friend, I really want you to help me, because we are both the Lord's. Help me, so that I can feel stronger and happier. Help me because we are both united to Christ.

21 I write to you because I am sure about you. You will do what I ask. I am sure about that. Also, I know that you will do even more than this.

22 I want to ask you one more thing. Please prepare a room in your home where I can stay. I know that all of you are praying about me. I hope that, as a result, they will let me go out of prison. Then I will be able to visit you again.

23 Epaphras is also here in prison with me because he is Christ Jesus's servant. Epaphras says ‘hello’ to you.

24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, who work with me, say ‘hello’ to you also.

25 I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to all of you.